Lee Salz is a Featured Columnist for The Business Journals.

Years ago, I was invited to interview for a vice president of sales position with a mid-sized services firm. Everything was going well with my interview with the company’s CEO — and then the question came.
It is a favorite question, yet also the most ridiculous question, for a CEO to ask a vice president of sales candidate in an interview.
“How much revenue can you drive for us this year?”
I thought it was a joke, but he wasn’t kidding. Maybe it was a trick question? It wasn’t. I said, “Before I respond to your question, may I ask you a few questions?” He acquiesced…